Milestones in Time

1929

​Effective August 14, 1929, Legislature creates the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as a section of the Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Works.

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​Eugene W. Biscailuz, Undersheriff, Los Angeles County, is appointed as the CHP's first Superintendent.

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​Officers employed by various county motor squads are absorbed into the CHP as its first members.

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​The CHP is given statewide jurisdiction to enforce the State Vehicle Act except in certain exempt counties.

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​1929 - 1947 - the CHP patch is created and used.

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​The CHP's uniform and enforcement vehicles are standardized.

1930s

​​​​1930

​The CHP establishes the first Academy training class at the old State Fairgrounds.

​1931

​The Division of Motor Vehicles is elevated to department status and the CHP becomes the Division of Enforcement (CHP), Department of Motor Vehicles.

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​E. Raymond Cato is appointed Chief of the Division of Enforcement (CHP) replacing the position of Superintendent.

​​​1932

​​Los Angeles County, the last county in California to maintain its own motor squad, yields its traffic enforcement jurisdiction to the CHP.

​​1933

​The CHP creates two new ranks, Sergeant and Supervising Inspector.

​​1934

​The growth of the CHP's responsibilities in law enforcement, especially in the rural areas of the state, leads to the granting of full peace officer powers to all uniformed members of the CHP.

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​​"Red flag" communications system is established. Officers on patrol need to call their offices when a red flag is displayed in front of designated buildings.

​​1935

​California Vehicle Act is abolished and the California Vehicle Code is created.

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​KAPA, the first CHP-operated radio station, uses a 50-watt radio transmitter. Its location in a trailer provides mobility to locations throughout the state.

​​1936

​CHP officers present at ceremonies of the opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge assume traffic enforcement responsibilities.

​​1937

​CHP provides traffic enforcement for the Golden Gate Bridge opening.

1940s

​​1941

​Dispatchers and officers in the field communicate with two-way radios.

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​Beginning of World War II.

​1942

​1942 - 1953 - CHP Auxiliary is formed to aid the CHP in traffic control, messenger services, transportation, and aerial reconnaissance. A privately-owned Stinson Voyager 150 is used by the CHP Academy.

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​​Homer Livingston Garrott, first African-American CHP Officer. Garrott later became a Municipal Court judge for Los Angeles County, appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan.

​​1943

​Material shortage forces the change from long uniform coats to short Eisenhower jackets.

​​1947

​The CHP is separated from the Department of Motor Vehicles and is elevated to a department of state government. The Department of California Highway Patrol is supervised by a Commissioner appointed by the Governor.